Japanese from zero · N3 Lesson 21
Should, and supposed to
〜べきだ ・ 〜こと (rules) ・ 〜ことになって いる ・ 〜わけには いかない
In this lesson, you will learn to say what someone should or should not do with 〜べきだ, to write a rule the way a notice does with 〜こと, to say what a rule or an arrangement expects with 〜ことになって いる, and to say you can't very well do something with 〜わけには いかない. Lisa and Minju write new rules for their apartment, and Lisa talks about the newspaper club's rules for the 学園祭 issue.
By the end you will be able to say
心配な ことが あったら、すぐ 話す べきだ。If something is worrying you, you should talk about it right away.
人の 秘密を 話す べきではない。You shouldn't tell other people's secrets.
使った 皿は すぐ 洗う こと。Rule: wash the dishes you use right away.
記事は 金曜日までに 出す ことになって いる。Articles are supposed to be in by Friday.
締め切りが あるから、休む わけには いかない。There's a deadline, so I can't very well take the day off.
The grammar in this lesson
- Should: 〜べきだ / 〜べきではない — Dictionary form + べきだ says what is the right thing to do; べきではない says what is not.
- Rule: 〜こと at the end of a sentence — On a list of rules or a notice, a sentence that ends in dictionary form + こと means 'do this'.
- Supposed to: 〜ことになって いる — Dictionary form + ことになって いる says that a rule, a custom or an arrangement says so.
- Can't very well: 〜わけには いかない — Dictionary form + わけには いかない says you can't do something because of a duty, a promise or what people would think.